Ontario's tourism industry may have taken a five-year beating since the summer of SARS, but Parry Sound's Island Queen Cruise just keeps sailing right along.
The Anderson family's sightseeing business, widely acclaimed as one of the province's tourism gems, doesn't need gimmicks or is searching for ways to re-package itself.
After 42 years of sailings the beautiful natural channels and inlets of Georgian Bay's 30,000 islands, “the boat sells itself,” said founder Ron Anderson, 70.
He's turned over the helm and the books to sons Steve and Dave, the cruise company's president and vice-president respectively.
Despite the economy, Anderson expects his 550-passenger Island Queen to maintain its steady 40,000 passengers annually during its twice-daily sailings between early June and Thanksgiving.
The numbers have tailed off slightly, but not enough to lay off any of the 30 to 35, mostly seasonal, staff.
When the vessel is fully booked, Ron will occasionally jump aboard to lend a hand. He's at home below decks in the engine room, where he can monitor the gauges and listen to the throbbing of the Island Queen's twin 500 horsepower Caterpillar diesel drive engines.
Born and raised in Parry Sound, Anderson, a former RCMP officer, inherited the marine business from his dad, Hugo Anderson, who ran a marina and a water taxi service in the 1950s shuttling cottagers out to the islands.
The arrival of outboard motors, and recreational fiberglass and aluminium boats in the early 1960s brought an end to that service.
There was interest by many tourists in just viewing the steep granite cliffs and windswept pines of Georgian Bay.
Over four decades, Anderson has put eight vessels into service, the last being the current Island Queen V built in Port Colborne by Algoma Central Marine in 1990.
"It's the largest sightseeing boat in Canada."
Designed by a West Palm Beach, FLA marine architect, it draws only six-and-half feet of water allowing to easily navigate the restricted and narrow island channels.
The company has been such a hallmark attraction that the Northern Ontario Development Corporation (the forerunner to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund) once approached him with a loan opportunity.
Anderson borrowed $280,000 with the first five years interest and principle free, after which he had to pay 11 per cent. Before that could kick in, he scrapped together the money and personally returned the full amount in a certified cheque to stunned NODC executives in Queen's Park.
"They all looked at each other and didn't know what to do with the money, because no one had ever done that before," said Anderson with a chuckle.
He was offered more money, but refused saying he didn't know what to spend it on.
Over the years, Anderson has sold his boats to other cruise operators, replacing each with a larger vessel. One ended up cruising the Ottawa River in front of the Parliament Buildings, another is working the St. Lawrence at Gananoque, while a third -- the Express of Canada -- is docked at the foot of Bay Street in Toronto as a charter cruiser.
The boat doesn't have a liquor license and is geared for families. They do offer evening charters for corporate groups and the occasional booze-free wedding. During the annual Festival of the Sound, the Island Queen serves as one of the music venues for popular evening cruises.
Maintaining high maintenance and customer standards is a priority. On a bulletin board inside their gift shop-ticket office on the town dock is a letter from a visitor from southwestern Ontario complimenting them on the the spotless, freshly-painted condition of the ship and its audible cruise narration.
The Island Queen is not only an attraction for tourists, it's a prized job for summer students, said Anderson.
"We do not have any trouble getting staff. All the university kids want to work on the Island Queen."
Quick Questions:
Ian: What's been your biggest challenge?
Ron: Securing key waterfront property to operate the business on, especially as it pertains to customer parking.
Ian: What's been your biggest surprise?
Ron: The advent of technology, both marine technology on the ship and computer technology in the office.
Ian: What have you learned the most?
Ron: Keep it simple and concentrate on your key strengths.
What's the secret to success?
Hard work, good employees and a quality product and service.
Ian: What's the best advice you've been given?
Ron: Invest in yourself and in your own backyard.
Ian: What's the best advice you have to give?
Ron: Don't overleverage and own your own assets.
